Chief Financial Officer Kent Catholic Schools' Partnership

Peridot Partners; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational trust based in Maidstone is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to oversee financial operations and strategic initiatives supporting over 10,000 learners across 32 schools. This role involves developing a financial strategy, ensuring compliance, and providing operational leadership. The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with strong commercial judgement and experience in developing financial strategies in complex environments, aligned with the Trust’s values and mission.

Benefits

Flexible working policy

Supportive and inclusive environment

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven track record of shaping and delivering financial strategy.
• Experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Ability to present financial information clearly.

Responsibilities

• Lead finance and business operations across 32 schools.
• Ensure financial sustainability and compliance.
• Develop and deliver financial strategy supporting growth.

Skills

Financial strategy development

Leadership skills

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder engagement

Financial compliance

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent)

Job description

Home / Roles / Chief Financial Officer | Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership

Chief Financial Officer Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership

Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership is seeking a strategic Chief Financial Officer to lead finance, estates, and business operations across its growing family of 32 schools.

• Location: Maidstone
• Closing date: 9 a.m. Wednesday 22nd October

Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership (KCSP) is seeking a strategic and commercially astute Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the Trust’s financial operations, IT, estates, and business functions. This is an opportunity to join an ambitious and values-driven organisation at a time of growth and transformation.

As CFO, you will be responsible for ensuring the financial sustainability and resilience of the Trust, advising the CEO, Trust Board, and senior leaders, while also driving forward efficiency, investment, and innovation. You will provide clear strategic oversight of finance and operations, ensuring our resources are aligned to deliver the best possible outcomes for over 10,000 learners across 32 Catholic schools.

We are seeking an exceptional finance leader with strong commercial judgement, the ability to balance strategic vision with operational rigour and a deep commitment to supporting our Catholic ethos and mission.

Who we are

Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership (KCSP) is a multi-academy trust created in 2012 at the request of the Archdiocese of Southwark to nurture Catholic education across Kent and Medway. Today, we are a growing family of 32 schools, both primary and secondary, that provide an excellent education for more than 10,000 children and young people.

Our mission is rooted in the Gospel and inspired by Christ’s teachings. We place the dignity of each child at the centre of our work, ensuring that every learner is supported to reach their full potential. While our foundation is firmly Catholic, we welcome families of all faiths and none, united in a commitment to outstanding education, inclusion, and care.

Collaboration is at the heart of the Trust’s approach. Central teams work closely with headteachers, the Local Governance Committee, and trustees to share expertise, provide targeted support, and maintain consistently high standards across education, safeguarding, and well-being. We are proud of our strong sense of community, where schools learn from one another and staff feel supported and valued.

KCSP is entering an exciting phase of development, balancing our expansion and long-term sustainability with our mission-driven focus, and is seeking a CFO who can provide the financial leadership to ensure that every decision supports both operational effectiveness and moral purpose. With growth on the horizon and a clear strategy for long-term sustainability, we are determined to continue delivering outstanding teaching and learning, underpinned by robust governance and strong stewardship of resources.

• Knowledge-rich, skills-led learning for all
• Christ at our heart
• Serving everyone in our community
• Partnership of love, ambition, joy and peace

About the role

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership’s executive team, working closely with the CEO and Trustees to ensure the Trust’s long-term financial sustainability and operational effectiveness.

This is an opportunity to shape the financial and operational strategy of a growing multi-academy trust serving over 10,000 learners across 32 schools, while supporting its mission to provide an ambitious, faith-rooted education.

As CFO, you will lead the Trust’s finance, IT, estates, and business operations, managing a central team and providing strategic oversight across the organisation. You will be the principal financial adviser to the CEO and Board. You will ensure statutory and regulatory compliance while identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, generate income and invest in educational priorities.

The role requires balancing high-level strategic planning with operational understanding, ensuring both central and school-level finance, procurement and resources are effectively managed.

Your responsibilities will include developing and delivering a financial strategy that supports growth and sustainability, leading the financial planning, forecasting and reporting processes, and overseeing estates and IT to ensure infrastructure meets current and future needs.

You will work closely with school business managers to support their school budgets, build reserves appropriately and continually strengthen financial controls. Managing relationships with the Diocese, Department for Education, ESFA, auditors, and other stakeholders will be central to the role, ensuring financial transparency, probity and confidence in all reporting.

The CFO will also take on the role of Accounting Officer to support the CEO, advising on operational and strategic matters while fostering collaboration across the executive team. You will lead procurement and contract management, ensuring value for money and consistency across the Trust. As a Trust of our size, with some challenging buildings, we have continued ongoing Capital projects, maintenance, and estates planning to manage. These will be undertaken in partnership with the Diocese, balancing limited funding with our strategic priorities.

This role requires a professional who can combine strategic insight with practical financial expertise, leading by example, developing a culture of accountability and collaboration. You will engage closely with headteachers, business managers, and the central team to embed strong financial practices and operational excellence, ensuring the Trust operates efficiently while remaining focused on its mission.

The CFO will make a difference to the lives of children and young people by ensuring KCSP remains financially secure, operationally effective, and true to its Catholic ethos. This is a chance to join a values-driven organisation at a pivotal stage of growth, using financial leadership to support outstanding education, inclusion, and the holistic development of every learner across the Trust.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a finance leader who combines technical expertise, commercial acumen, and strategic vision with a drive to work in an organisation committed to improving the lives of young people and their communities.

You will be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent) with extensive senior leadership experience, ideally gained in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

Experience in the education, charity, or public sector is welcome but not essential; what matters most is your ability to apply robust financial management, business discipline and commercial thinking to our context.

You will bring:

• A demonstrable track record of shaping and delivering financial strategy in a large or complex organisation.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, manage and develop multi-disciplinary teams.
• The ability to combine operational detail with strategic foresight.
• Experience of working with Boards, committees, or governance structures, and the ability to present financial information with clarity and insight.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to identify opportunities for efficiency, investment, and income generation.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders, from school leaders to trustees and external partners.

This is a role for a finance professional who wants more than simply to work with numbers; someone who is motivated by making a difference. By joining KCSP, you will be part of a mission-led organisation that combines financial discipline with moral purpose, ensuring that every child meets their ambitions through a high-quality, rigorous education.

If you are a strategic thinker with the drive to ensure sustainability, the skills to deliver commercial success, and the passion to align finance with a greater purpose, we would be delighted to hear from you.

We are an inclusive trust and pride ourselves on supporting the communities that we serve through high-quality Catholic education. It is not an essential requirement that the new CFO needs to be of Catholic faith, it is important that you come with a sympathy and understanding of our Trust’s commitment to Catholicity.

Peridot Partners and Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnershipare committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:

If you would like to know more about this role please contact Eddie Caviezel Cox

I am delighted that you have expressed an interest in the post of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with the Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership (KCSP) and hope that after considering all the information provided, you will make an application.

Our Trust was created in 2012, at the request of the Archdiocese of Southwark, to support and further develop Catholic education in Kent. As of September 2025, we are a family of 32 Catholic schools (and growing) who teach and care for over 10,000 learners across Kent and Medway. Each of our schools aims to offer excellent education with a distinctive Catholic ethos: with Christ at our heart, we strive together to ensure that our schools offer an ambitious education and curriculum for all, with a firm focus on the provision of excellent teaching and learning, to ensure that the potential of each and every one of our young people in our schools is fulfilled, whatever their need.

We work together in a partnership which is willing to share outstanding expertise, offers support and challenge when needed, supports well-being effectively, and keeps everyone in our school communities safe.

We are looking to appoint a highly motivated and experienced Chief Financial Officer to join our experienced and committed leadership team. This individual will play a key role in shaping and driving the financial strategy of the Trust, ensuring the financial health and sustainability of the organisation as we continue to expand. The CFO will be responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the Trust, including budgeting, financial planning, forecasting and reporting.

The Chief Financial Officer will need to build strong relationships with the Trust’s senior leaders and central team, as well as establish effective partnerships with external bodies and the Trust Board. The successful candidate will be passionate about ensuring the financial sustainability of our Trust while supporting our mission to help every pupil achieve their potential. You will be expected to uphold the highest standards of financial integrity and accountability, ensuring that safeguarding is central to the financial systems, processes, and strategies we implement across the Trust. We are looking for an individual who resonates with our vision and values, someone who is committed to leading us in a way that enhances both educational and financial outcomes for all our learners.

I hope you are excited by the prospect of this post.

Wishing you every success with your application.

Kind regards,

Annemarie Whittle
CEO

About us

The Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership (KCSP) is a family of 32 schools – 27 primary and 5 secondary – working together to provide an ambitious, inclusive, and faith-filled education for more than 10,000 children and young people across Kent. Established in 2012 at the request of the Archdiocese of Southwark, our Trust exists to protect, preserve, and advance Catholic education, ensuring it continues to flourish for generations to come.

Our partnership is rooted in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, who came so that all may have “life in all its fullness.” This underpins everything we plan, think, and do. We believe that every child and young person is created in the image of God, with unique gifts and potential, and that our duty is to nurture, challenge, and inspire them to flourish academically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally.

Our Mission and Vision

At the heart of KCSP’s vision is a simple but profound commitment: to love and serve one another as brothers and sisters, and to share Christ’s peace and joy in our schools, our local communities, and as part of a global Church.

We strive to ensure that every child, whatever their background or need, has access to an ambitious education that enables them to succeed.

Our schools offer excellent teaching and learning, alongside a culture of care and well-being, so that children and staff alike feel safe, valued, and supported.

We see education as a transformative journey that equips young people not only with knowledge and skills, but also with values and a sense of vocation that will guide them throughout their lives.

Our Structure

KCSP is a multi-academy trust (MAT) with a clear and robust governance framework. At the highest level, our Members safeguard the mission of the Trust; these include the Archbishop of Southwark and his representatives. Our Board of Directors – the Trust Board – provides strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability. Foundation Directors are appointed by the Archbishop to ensure our Catholic character remains at the heart of all decision-making.

The Board operates through several committees:

• Education Standards Committee – monitoring teaching, learning, and pupil outcomes.
• Finance & Resources Committee – overseeing financial planning, sustainability, and value for money.
• Audit & Risk Committee – ensuring compliance, managing risk, and safeguarding public funds.
• Pay & Performance Committee – reviewing executive pay and performance.
• Local Governance Committees (LGCs) – in each school, holding leaders to account and ensuring that local voices remain central.

Supporting this governance is a dedicated Central Executive Team, led by the Chief Executive Officer, and including senior leaders for education, finance, safeguarding, governance, and operations. Together with our headteachers, they deliver the Trust’s strategic plan and business plan.

Our Strategic Priorities

Our strategic plan was developed collaboratively, through consultation across our schools, and is supported by a Trust-wide business plan. It is built around six core objectives:

• Catholic Life at the Heart of Our Schools – embedding Gospel values, excellent RE, and Catholic Social Teaching across all aspects of school life.
• Safeguarding and Well-being – ensuring the safety and flourishing of pupils and staff through strong safeguarding systems and well-being support.
• Excellence in Leadership – building leadership capacity across the Trust, investing in professional development, and ensuring governance is diverse, skilled, and effective.
• Learning for All – delivering ambitious teaching and learning, supported by research-based practice, rich curricula, and opportunities for staff development.
• Inclusion and SEND – ensuring all children, including those with additional needs, receive the support they need to thrive.
• Financial Sustainability – maintaining strong, ethical finances and building services that deliver value for money, support growth, and secure the long-term future of our schools.

These objectives reflect our belief that education is about the whole child, and that flourishing comes from the interplay of faith, learning, well-being, and stewardship.

As a Catholic MAT, KCSP is part of a wider Church family. Our schools are rooted in their parishes and local communities, but are also connected through the shared mission of the Archdiocese. We are proud of our strong links with families, clergy, and local communities, as well as our openness to working with other multi-academy trusts and education partners.

We strive to live out Catholic Social Teaching in practice – ensuring that our decision-making is ethical, inclusive, and focused on the common good. This means we care not only about academic results but also about how we use resources, how we support staff well-being, and how we contribute to building a fairer society.

We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.

Our accessibility provisions include:

• Step-free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms, and an accessible workstation.
• Accessibility dogs are welcome.
• Papers and materials can be presented in different formats.
• A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interviews.
• Working patterns and locations can be adjusted.

Further information

As a Trust, we have a clear flexible working policy in place and many examples of people working flexibly, such as different start and finish times or part-time working. We also operate a system of hybrid working, with people able to work from home one to two days per week.

We also have a Trust menopause policy that sets out suggested reasonable adjustments that can be made.

Applicants with a disability are invited to contact us in confidence at any point during the recruitment process to discuss steps that could be taken to overcome operational difficulties presented by the role, or if any adjustments or support are required regarding the recruitment process.

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:

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To formally apply, please submit the above application forms and a supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivationin applying for this position.

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Please ensure that your application is emailed to [e-mail] , inserting “Application: Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership — Chief Financial Officer” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:

As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive, and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.

If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact Eddie Caviezel Cox. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.

Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.

Timetable

Closing date: 9 a.m. Wednesday 22nd October 2025

We are in the process of confirming interview dates. Once confirmed, we will update the site and contact those who have applied.

Peridot and Kent Catholic Schools’ Partnership are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions.We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.

The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.

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